Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

R. J. GARDNER. WIRE STRETOHER.-

No. 591,115. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

A'TFNT FFTCE.

WIRE-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,115, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed May 13, 1897.

wire-stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of Wire-stretchers and to provide a simple, strong, and durable device capable of enabling fence-wires to be readily and easily stretched to the desired tension preparatory to stapling'or otherwise.

securing them to fence-posts and adapted to take up the slack of fence-wires between posts, after the wires have been attached to the same, by crimping the said wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which will form an'effective wirecutter and which will enable staples to be readily extracted.-

The invention consists in the construction, novel combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wire-stretcher constructed in ac cordance with this invention, the bars or members being partially open. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the sections or members being closed. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the bar or member having the wire-receiving loop.

Like numerals of reference designate cor responding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 and 2 designate two substantially L- shaped bars or members connected near their angles by a pivot 3, consisting of a rivet or other suitable fastening device and permitting the sections or members to swing apart or separate to carry their engaging arms 4 and 5 away from each other to open the device, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. The pivot 3 is located a short distance from the angle of the bars or members and passes through perforations of the shanks or handle portions of the same,

Serial No. 6 36,384. (No model.)

being arranged at right angles to both the arms and handle portions.

The shanks of thebars or members are provided at their inner edges with notches 1 and 2" and are beveled adjacent to the same to form a wire-cutter. When it is desired to cut a wire, the shanks are spread, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, and are closed on the wire to bring the cutting edges into contact with the same.

The arm 5 of the bar or members 2 is provided at its inner face with transverse grooves 6, adapted to receive a fence-wire which is introduced into the grooves when the device is open, as shown in Fig. 1, and it is locked in the said grooves by closing the device and arranging the parts as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2, the engaging arms 4 and 5 are arranged in the same plane and are adapted to fit against a fence-post to enable the device to be rotated for Winding the wire around the arms 4 and 5, whereby a fence-wire may be stretched to the desired tension. After the fence-wire is stretched to the desired tension by rotating the device itis stapled or otherwise secured to the fence-post.

The arms are supported when closed by a loop 7, located at the outer end of the arm 5 and consisting of a substantially L-shaped piece cooperating with the adjacent face of the arm to forms. rectangular loop to receive the outer end of the other arm. a

The loop 7 is adapted to engage or receive a fence-wire after the same has been fastened to the fence-post in order to crimp fence-wires betweenthe posts and to take up any slack therein. After a fence-wire is arranged in the loop the device is closed to confine the wire in the same, and it is then twisted in either direction to tighten the fence-wire. After the fence-Wire is looped or crimped in this manner the device is readily disengaged from the same.

The outer end S of the arm 4 is slightly curved and pointed to engage a staple,'and the bar or member 1 is provided at its angle with a heel 9, forming an extension or pro long'ation of the arm 4=and adapted to be struck by a hammer to drive the pointed outer end 8 into a staple. After the pointed end 8 is introduced into a staple the latter may be readily extracted by using the device as a lever, the projectingloop 7 forming a fulcrum. The end 8 is slightly hook-shaped, and only a comparatively slight pressure on the handle end.

be secured to a post after a wire has been stretched.

It will be seen that the device is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable and cannot be easily broken, and that if it should break at the pivot the parts may be readily repaired. It will also be seen that the device is adapted for conveniently and rapidly stretching fencewires at a fence-post and is capable of holding the same securely in position for stapling or otherwise securing wires to the post and that it forms an effective wire-cutter. Furthermore, it will be apparent that the device is adapted to operate as a mid-wire take-up and is capable of readily stretching a fencewire at a point between fence-posts and of crimping the same sufficiently to stretch the wire to the proper tension.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. Awire-stretchercomprisingapairofsubstantially L-shaped bars or members forming handle portions and engaging arms and similarly disposed and pivoted together flat against each other with the pivot disposed in a plane at right angles to both the handle portions and the arms, whereby the arms may be brought sufficiently close to clamp a fence and are capable of being rotated against a 1 fence-post to wrap a fence-wire around them i and stretch the same to the desired tension, substantially as described.

2. A wire-stretcher comprisinga pair of L- shaped bars or members arranged flat against each other and pivoted together near their angles with the pivot disposed at right angles to their arms and handle portions, one of the bars or members being provided at the inner face of its arm with a wire-receiving groove,

substantially as described.

3. A Wire-stretcher comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped bars or members pivoted together near their angles and forming shanks or handle portions and wire-engaging arms, one of the arms being provided with a transversely-disposed wire -receiving loop, arranged to receive and support the other arm, whereby the wire is clamped in the loop, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4:. A Wire-stretcher comprising the L-shaped bar or member 1, provided at its angle with a iheel forming an extension of the engaging arm, the latter being pointed and slightly 1 curved, the similar L-shaped bar or member 2 provided at the inner face of its engaging arm with transverse grooves and having a isubstantially rectangular loop arranged at i the outer end of its engaging arm, and adapted I to receive the arm of the other L-shaped bar 1 or member, whereby the same is supported and the wire is clamped, and a pivot connecting the bars or members and located adjacent 1 to the angle of the same, substantially as de- 2 scribed. v In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J. GARDNER.

NVitnesses:

A. J. SPRADLEY, V. E. MIDDLEBROOK. 

